Ninth talk of Padmaloka's 2012 Winter Retreat. Amitabha's emphasis is on meditation and his wisdom is that of discrimination, he is also associated with spiritual death. How do all these associations come together ? One point of connection is the Bodhicitta. The reorientation of self and a letting go which allows for something vaster and more beautiful to inform our lives. In the first place, this might be expressed through being more empathic and compassionate to others.

The fires that can consume our old selves also release a new potential, the image of the phoenix evokes this transformation.

Eleventh and last talk of Padmaloka's 2012 Winter Retreat. Once again at the Centre of the Mandala, Vairocana, how do we balance the teachings of effort and openness. One way is through the image of the Sun and relaxed being, the practice of the Dharma is simply to come back. Yet of course this requires effort.

Another question is the balance between practical and mythical approaches : can we hold both at once? What do we give significance to ? what do we make real ? can we open to a world of richer and deeper meaning ?